The National Theatre of Scotland (NTS) announces a first -time partnership with the Screen Machine which will see the NTS’ latest production, Rocket Post, appearing on the big screen and touring to new audiences across remote communities in the Highlands and Islands in 2017 and 2018.
This new show with specially arranged songs for children and grown-ups from the acclaimed collaborative team of Lewis Hetherington, Ailie Cohen and MJ McCarthy, will tour Scotland until 21 October 2017 and is based on the incredible true story of Gerhard Zucker and his ill-fated attempts to bring a rocket-based postal service to the Western Isles in 1934.
Following this tour, a special showing of the production will be filmed in front of a live audience in Harris where the story of Gerhard Zucker and his rocket mail idea for delivering letters at high speed over long distances holds particular resonance. It was there that Zucker travelled to experiment with sending two rockets full of letters on a 1600 metre flight path between the isles of Harris and Scarp.
The screen version of Rocket Post, directed by BBC multi camera director Donald MacInnes, will premiere in Millport on the Isle of Cumbrae on 8 December 2017 and then join the Screen Machine tour for selected screenings across communities in Northern Scotland. The tour will be accompanied by a creative digital engagement programme for children and an interactive live element in selected venues on the tour.
This venture marks the first time that the NTS has brought a broadcast screening of an NTS show to cinema audiences, continuing its ethos to tour widely throughout Scotland, and let as many audiences as possible access their programme. This is the first National Theatre of Scotland on Screen project and marks the beginning of their producing work on different platforms, offering innovative new ways for audiences to experience NTS productions.
Robert Livingston, Director, Regional Screen Scotland says, “Regional Screen Scotland is delighted that the Screen Machine can be the means of piloting this exciting new approach to making the work of the National Theatre of Scotland even more accessible. We hope this tour of Rocket Post, will become a model for using digital technology to bring an experience of live theatre to as wide an audience as possible.”
Rocket Post will be touring throughout the Highlands and Islands in early 2018 with full tour schedule to be announced. See www.nationaltheatrescotland.com